State Representative, District -- 36, Position -- 1

Party: Democrat

Date of birth: March 29, 1932

Residence: Magnolia

Education: BA Econ, MA Econ University of Washington

Political offices held: State Representative 36 LD Pos 1 1972-2004

CURRENT LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS
Appropriations – Chair
Pension Funding Council
Institute for Public Policy, Board
State Investment Board

Public service and volunteer experience: Bio 21 Steering Committee

Burke Museum Association

Washington Women's Foundation

Rainier Institute, Board member

Seattle Art Museum

Friends of Stonerose Fossils, Republic, Wash.

Ice Age Floods Institute

Washington Environmental Council

League of Women Voters

Pacific Science Center Foundation, Associate

Advisory Committee, Pharmacists Emergency Contraception Project

Technology Alliance Smart Tools Academy, Steering Committee

Women's Political Caucus

National Organization for Women - Seattle-King County, Past President

Endorsements: Women’s Political Caucus WA Conservation Voters
WA NOW Organization for Women Young Democrats of WA
NARAL Pro-Choice King County Young Democrats
Planned Parenthood State Council of Firefighters
State Nurses Association Mental Health PAC
UW Alumni Advocates Law Enforcement Administrators
Aerospace Machinists’ Joint Council Teamsters #28
State Patrol Troopers Assoc. Public Employees of WA
WA Public Employees Assoc. Plumbers & Pipefitters # 32
Operating Engineers #302 Professional/Tech. Engineers #17
Amalgamated Transit Union United Food & Commercial Workers #1001

Campaign theme: Improve funding for education
Assume a safe Alaskan Way Viaduct
Unbought & Unbossed

Questions for candidates

What are the biggest differences between you and your opponent(s)? I have strong experience in budget and legislative areas and serve as Chair of the Appropriations Committee in the House. I have made responsible but difficult decisions in challenging sessions due to our recent poor economy and loss of state revenue. My opponent is waging a negative campaign. An out-of-state union is spending over $150,000 to support my opponent and continuously makes false statements about my votes and positions.

What are your highest priorities for state government? If you had to close the projected $1 billion gap between state government revenues and expenses, how would you do it? Improved funding for education Assure a safe Alaskan Way Viaduct

Do you support the initiative to raise the sales tax 1 penny to raise money for schools and higher education? I strongly support and worked to gather signatures on the petition for Initiative 884. I-884 would provide badly needed revenue for K-12, higher education and preschool programs.

Are you happy with Washington's new primary? Are you supporting the initiative that would give Washington a "top 2" primary system that the parties oppose? Unfortunately our former Primary procedure was overturned by federal courts. The “top two” initiative allows flexible choice but it has other drawbacks: smaller parties would not appear on the November ballot. In some districts voters could be faced with two Democrats or two Republicans.

What do you think of the initiative to expand the use of slot machines to reduce taxes? I do not support this initiative.

Contact

2832 W ELMORE PL
SEATTLE, WA 98199
(206) 352-7505
helen@helensommers.org

Campaign Web site:
www.helensommers.org